Dhaka, April 22 – Earth Day was observed in Bangladesh, as across the globe, on Wednesday. Each year, Earth Day, April 22, marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. It aims to draw attention to the rapid extinction of species across the world, which is directly linked to human activity which causes climate change, deforestation and pollution. Earth Day 2020 theme was Climate Action. The enormous challenges, but also the vast opportunities, of acting on climate change have distinguished the issue as the most pressing topic for the 50th anniversary. Climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and the life-support systems that make our world habitable.
At the end of 2020, nations will be expected to increase their national commitments to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. The time is now for citizens to call for greater global ambition to tackle our climate crisis. Unless every country in the world steps up and steps up with urgency and ambition, we are consigning current and future generations to a dangerous future.
“Over the past months of lockdown, nature is trying to bring environmental equilibrium in the world and restore what we have destroyed; we must be conscious of our consumption pattern and respect the environment,” Dr. S. M Munjurul Hannan Khan, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Information of the government of Bangladesh said at a webinar on the day.
The webinar was organized by Earth Day Network Bangladesh and Action Aid Bangladesh to celebrate 50 Years of Earth Day Celebration in Bangladesh.
In her opening remarks Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, said the Earth Day is a day that reminds all of their duties towards the earth’s environment, the environment that is essential for them to have a healthy life.
“Individual actions may seem insignificant but if we, on this day, make a pledge together, our collective action can make the world a better place,” she said.
Dr. Khan, who was the special guest at the webinar, urged everyone not to take up environmentally destructive actions.
The webinar was joined by Sabrina Shaeed, Principal of Sir John Wilson School, and shared inspirational stories of environmental actions led by the school children, including plantation of 2,500 trees, and pledged to bring changes in behaviour towards reducing waste and protecting the environment.
Karuna Singh, Regional Director of South and Southeast Asia, Earth Day Network urged everyone to understand that they have one common home, one planet – there is no other planet. “So, we must do everything we can to protect it.”
At the closing session of the webinar, Anhara Rabbani, Resilience and Environment Sustainability Officer of ActionAid Bangladesh stated that the Earth Day is a reminder for all of them, especially the young people, be the protector of the planet and continue demonstrating leadership taking innovative actions and reaching out to our friends and families.
“We should really take a moment and think of post COVID19 scenario, based on what we’ve learned, we must take informed actions to favour our planet,” said Rabbani.
Zuhair Ahmed Kowshik, Manager of Earth Day Network Bangladesh, in his closing remark noted that coexistence with other species and plants are the only way to live better. “We should redefine our development approach towards a sustainable one where young people will lead.”
The 50 Years of Earth Day Celebration Webinar was jointly organized by Earth Day Network Bangladesh and ActionAid Bangladesh inviting young people from across the country and South Asia. The event was live-streamed on social media. – News Desk
